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Songs You Didn’t Know Michael Jackson Wrote for Other Artists

By Balogun Kamilu Lekan

For a more than four decades-long career, Michael Jackson produced numerous songs from various genres and wrote more than 150 songs.

Jackson began writing and producing songs in the 1980s with artists like Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, Jennifer Holliday, and sisters Rebbie, LaToya, and Janet Jackson, among others.

Below are songs you might not know the pop star wrote

You’re the One – Jennifer Holliday

Hard Time for Lovers and “No Frills Love” are the only two singles from Jennifer Holliday’s second album, Say You Love Me, that have been publicly released. 

Unexpectedly, Michael Jackson co-wrote and produced the album’s lead single, “You’re the One,” which followed a young woman’s search for true love. The song was never made available as a single.

The Man – Paul McCartney

The duo’s duet hit “Say Say Say” and the lesser-known song “The Man” were both co-written by Paul McCartney for Michael Jackson’s fourth solo album, Pipes of Peace, which was released a year after the release of their duet on the Thriller single, “The Girl Is Mine.”

Following “Pipes of Peace” and “Say Say Say,” “The Man” was initially slated to be the third single in 1984 but was postponed as a result of Paul and Linda McCartney being arrested for drug possession in Bridgetown, Barbados, for having less than half an ounce of marijuana.

Night Time Lover – LaToya Jackson

The brother and sister originally wrote “Night Time Lover” for Donna Summer under the name “Fire Is the Feeling,” but it ended up on LaToya Jackson’s self-titled album. 

LaToya would perform the song on American Bandstand in 1980. It was produced and co-written by her brother, Michael Jackson, who also sings on the track.

Centipede – Rebbie Jackson

“Centipede,” Rebbie Jackson’s debut single, was written by her younger brother Michael and served as the album’s title track. Rebbie is the eldest of the Jackson family. The 1982 hit “It’s Raining Men,” written by Paul Jabara and Paul Shaffer, featured backing vocals from Michael and The Weather Girls (Martha Wash and Izora Armstead).

It Had to Be – The Brothers Johnson

The Los Angeles-based funk and R&B duo The Brothers Johnson, which consists of brothers George (“Lightnin’ Licks”) and Louis “Thunder Thumbs” Johnson, had the opportunity to write a song with the king of pop for their fourth album, Light Up the Night.

The album was produced by Quincy Jones, who had previously worked with Michael Jackson on his breakthrough solo album Off the Wall. Jackson co-wrote “It Had To Be” with the Johnsons and contributed backing vocals to the song.


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